RESOURCES: Legislation and Issues of Community Interest
In Support of the Coronado Ferry Landing
Please see the below letter that our CRC Co-Chairs published in The Coronado Eagle & Journal newspaper 11/12/25, as well as a separate letter sent to the Port of San Diego Board Commissioners and President/CEO.
We encourage Club members to directly contact Port Commissioners and the President/CEO to civilly express your opinions as well (emails included below).
Background articles for context of the actions taken by the Port of San Diego:
Port to End Lease at Coronado Ferry Landing
Port of San Diego Rejects Lease Renewal for Coronado Ferry Landing
Coronado Ferry Landing Contract Dispute Puts Future of Bayside Attraction in Limbo
Citing deferred maintenance concerns, Port responds to Ferry Landing lease decision
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The following letter was published in The Coronado Eagle & Journal newspaper on November 12, 2025.
IN SUPPORT OF THE FERRY LANDING
On behalf of the Coronado Republican Club (CRC), we write to express our full support for Mayor John Duncan and our entire City Council for their principled stance on the recent jarring decision by the Port of San Diego to decline renewal of the master lease at the Coronado Ferry Landing, held by Port Coronado Associates (PCA).
The PCA lease now expires in June 2026, leaving Ferry Landing tenants in limbo, the $20 million investment on hold, and our community’s vision for progress derailed.
The Coronado Ferry Landing is more than a retail hub, it is the welcoming gateway to our unique city, where families stroll the waterfront, visitors catch their first enchanting glimpse of San Diego Bay, and small businesses there thrive as a lifeblood of our community.
The inexplicable action by the Port of San Diego not only halts a vital $20 million redevelopment project, it erodes trust with Ferry Landing tenants (many of whom are local small business owners) as well as the general public’s trust. The Port is flouting the spirit of the California Public Trust Doctrine, which demands waterfront lands serve the public good through transparent partnerships.
For decades, PCA (the developer and private operator of the Coronado Ferry Landing) has stewarded this iconic site under a lease with the Port. PCA has invested in its upkeep and engaged fully with the Coronado community to craft a comprehensive redevelopment plan that would transform it into a vibrant destination while honoring its timeless charm.
The plan, honed through years of public outreach, garnered broad backing from residents, businesses, and elected officials alike. It promised not just aesthetic enhancements—new dining options, improved public spaces, and sustainable features—but also a surge in economic activity: jobs for locals, increased tourism revenue, and a stronger tax base.
Yet, in a closed-session decision shrouded in secrecy, and without explanation or negotiation, the Port’s Board of Commissioners rejected PCA’s renewal application on October 23, 2025. Additionally, Port staff informed PCA that the redevelopment project had been rejected outright. PCA immediately called the action “devastating” and highlighted that it appears to not be in compliance with Port Board Policy 355, which requires good-standing tenants like PCA a fair process to obtain lease term extensions through negotiation.
We commend the City Council’s resolve in challenging this unexpected action. We also appreciate Coronado’s Port Commissioner Frank Urtasun’s public comments that he disagrees with the way this matter has been handled by the Port, and that he does not support the Port stepping into the role of operating the Ferry Landing.
Rectifying this very troubling situation needs to be a top priority for the entire Coronado community and should transcend any partisan or ideological differences. It strikes at the heart of all local organizations’ shared commitment to preserving Coronado’s unique character, bolstering our local economy, and advocating for good governance.
In an era too often defined by division, this is a time for united action and advocacy. We pledge our Club’s full resources — our voices, networks, and volunteer energy — to press the Port to reconsider their decision: extend negotiations with PCA, consider harmful consequences to local small business tenants at the Ferry Landing, honor community input, and green-light the long overdue redevelopment plan.
We encourage all local clubs and organizations to conduct parallel advocacy efforts to help resolve this situation and reinstall a viable community-driven redevelopment plan for the Ferry Landing.
Our city’s well-known logo is a crown. Let’s come together and ensure the Coronado Ferry Landing remains one of our brightest shining jewels.
Together, as one Coronado, we will prevail.
With optimism,
Kevin Shaeffer, Co-Chair CRC
Rhonda Fleming, Co-Chair CRC
We encourage concerned residents and others who care about the future of Ferry Landing to contact the Board of Port Commissioners directly to express your opinions.
Scott Chadwick, President & CEO: schadwick@portofsandiego.org
Danielle Moore, Chair: dmoore@portofsandiego.org
Ann Moore, Vice Chair: amoore@portofsandiego.org
Michael Zucchet, Secretary: mzucchet@portofsandiego.orgn b
Dan Malcom: dmalcolm@portofsandiego.org
Gilanthony Ungab: gungab@portofsandiego.org
Frank Urtasun: furtasun@portofsandiego.org
Sid Voorakkara; svoorakkara@portofsandiego.org
VOL. 115, NO. 46 - Nov. 12, 2025
Prop 50
After a disappointing but unsurprising defeat in the November 4 special election, the California Republican Party has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the voter-approved redistricting maps enacted via Proposition 50, alleging that the measure is unconstitutional.
The U.S. Department of Justice has intervened as a plaintiff in the case. Judge Josephine L. Staton of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has scheduled an initial hearing for December 3. State Assemblyman David Tangipa (R-Fresno), along with the California GOP and individual voters, filed the lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber.
The plaintiffs allege that the new maps predominantly use race — particularly to favor Latino voters — as a proxy for allocating political power, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment (and potentially the 15th Amendment).
We’ll continue to provide notable updates on the case.
The TJ Sewage Crisis
The ongoing sewage crisis remains a top priority issue for our Coronado City Council and many local community groups. Below are useful links to timelines and status updates on the crisis.
An update letter from Coronado Mayor John Duncan:
A letter from former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey, with a timeline of the sewage crisis:
A letter from Coronado Mayor John Duncan in rebuttal to SD Tribune editorial “Hopes for sewage fix fading”:
CA Senate Bill 79
There is a critical piece of legislation making its way through Sacramento that could drastically alter the future of Coronado: Senate Bill 79, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener. If this bill becomes law it will undermine the quality of life for Coronado residents, adding significant density, congestion, and noise. More importantly, it would erode our ability to govern ourselves.
SB 79 would strip control from the City of Coronado by imposing state-mandated zoning standards. Our Mayor and City Council would lose the authority to manage zoning in key areas of our city. In particular, the area surrounding the ferry terminal at the Old Ferry Landing could be subject to drastic zoning changes allowing for increased density.
See the below CRC letter published in the Coronado Eagle for more details. To date, there has been no reply from the Coronado Democratic Club in our call to join us in clear opposition to SB 79.
In addition, CRC has sent letters to our State Senator Weber Pierson and Assemblymember Tasha Boerner asking them to “Vote No” on SB 79. To date, we have not received a reply.
On behalf of the Coronado City Council, Mayor John Duncan also sent the below letter to SB 79’s sponsor, CA Senator Wiener.
https://pub-coronado.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=2132
To follow the progress of SB 79 in Sacramento, use this helpful link:
Parker Pump Station
Coronado’s major infrastructure project — The Parker Pump Station Replacement Project — is ongoing. The City started work on the $26 million project January 6, 2023. A major rainstorm flooded parts of Coronado’s streets in 2024, with flood levels up to 5 feet in some areas. Below is a handy link to City updates on the project.
